Recording medium controller and recording medium controlling method

ABSTRACT

A battery-operated recording medium controller monitors the ID of a replayed melody and when a replay ID comparing section (A 126 ) makes a decision that a melody of the same ID as the previous one is replayed, a section (A 127 ) for judging necessity of auxiliary information designates an auxiliary information access control section not to acquire auxiliary information (ID3 tag) again from a disc but to reuse auxiliary information stored in an auxiliary information storing section A. Consequently, the number of times of accessing the recording medium is decreased, and when the auxiliary information added to reproduction data like the ID3 tag of an MP3 is acquired, moving distance of an optical pickup is decreased and current consumption can be reduced.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording medium control apparatusand a recording medium control method for restraining the powerconsumption when playback data are read out from a recording medium andattempting increase of operation duration time of a battery; and morespecifically, relates to a recording medium control apparatus and arecording medium control method for restraining the power consumption inthe case of reading out auxiliary information from a recording medium inwhich one or more sets of playback data and auxiliary information addedto the playback data are recorded and attempting increase of operationduration time of a battery.

BACKGROUND ART

For a battery driven mobile apparatus that plays data from a recordingmedium (a recording medium control apparatus), it is requested from themarket to reduce power consumption of the apparatus and to increasecontinuous operation time of a battery.

A recording medium control apparatus of a prior art that intends toincrease the operation time of a battery is disclosed in the Japanesepatent laid-open publication No. Hei 07-065507. The recording mediumcontrol apparatus of the prior art will be explained below.

Data are read out from a rotation-driven disk by an optical head, andthen servo control of the optical head and a spindle motor is executedbased on an error signal generated from an output signal thereof. Adecoding process is performed on the output signal from the opticalhead, the data are stored once in a memory, and then the data are readout at a speed, which is slower than the writing speed of the dataoutputted from the decoding part. A first period in which data recordedon the disk are read out by the optical head and written in the memoryand a second period in which the reading of data is stopped and only thereading-out of the data stored in the memory is executed are setalternately. In such a manner, the optical head and the memory arecontrolled by a controller so that the data recorded on the disk areread out intermittently, and during the second period the servo controloperation of the servo control part is stopped. This leads that therecording medium control apparatus can be reduced consumption ofwasteful electric power.

The configuration of the recording medium control apparatus of the priorart is particularly effective to reduce the consumption of current asfar as it handles only the data recorded contiguously such as theplayback data. However, for example, in the case that an ID3 tag whichis auxiliary information (data such as title name, artist name or thelike) is added to the end of MP3 audio data which are playback data, itis necessary to obtain the ID3 tag which is auxiliary information, inadvance to the playback so as to display the ID3 tag on a displaydevice. Therefore a mechanical action that an optical pickup is oncemoved down to the end of music data by a traverse motor in order toobtain the ID3 tag before the optical pickup is put back to the head ofthe music data again is required. Since the traverse motor moves twicefor the playback of one-piece of music and the total driving distancethereof is longer than that in the case that the traverse motor movesonce from the top to the end of the MP3 data recording region, a problemthat consumption of current becomes large remains.

The recording medium control apparatus of the prior art handling suchthe auxiliary information is explained below referring to the drawings.FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical diskcontroller of the prior art, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a dataconfiguration of the MP3 (Mpeg Audio Layer 3) data which are music data,and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of playback data on theplayback data recording part 710 and the auxiliary information recordingpart 711 and an operation of an optical pickup for reading those data.

As shown in FIG. 10, the optical disk control apparatus 1000 includes aspindle motor 111, an optical pickup 112, a traverse motor 113, a systemcontrol part 114, a playback control part 1020, an auxiliary informationaccess control-part C1021, and a playback-data access control part 122.

As shown in FIG. 6, MP3 data 610, which are music data, consists of MP3audio data 611, which is a playback data part, and an ID3 tag 612, whichis an auxiliary information part and is added to the end of the MP3audio data 611. The ID3 tag 612, which is the auxiliary informationpart, is sometimes added to the head of the MP3 audio data 611. Inaddition, a plurality of sets of the MP3 data 610 consisting of the MP3audio data 611 and the ID3 tag 612 are recorded on an exchangeableoptical disk 110 in FIG. 10.

The optical disk control apparatus 1000 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to FIGS. 10, 6 and 7. In the optical diskcontrol apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 10, during the optical disk 110 isbeing rotated by the spindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112 is movedby the traverse motor 113, and then the optical pickup 112 reads out thedata recorded on the optical disk 110. The system control part 114processes the data having been read and outputs a sound L channel signaland a sound R channel signal as a playback signal. Also the systemcontrol part 114 executes focus servo control and tracking servo controlof the optical pickup 112 when reading out data from the optical disk110, rotation control of the spindle motor 111 for stable rotation ofthe optical disk 110, and rotation control of the traverse motor 113 tomove the optical pickup 112 to a destination access position on theoptical disk 110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, a playback controlpart E1020 operates according to the key input. For example, in the casethat a PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playbackcontrol part E1020 instructs a playback-data access control part 122 toplay a signal. The playback-data access control part 122 requests to thesystem control part 114 accessing of the playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113 according to the request to access the playback data to move theoptical pickup 112 to the destination position of the playback data onthe optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out the destinationplayback data. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read to output the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal. Furthermore, in the case that theauxiliary information (ID3 tag) is added to the playback data, theplayback control part E1020 instructs the auxiliary information accesscontrol part C102 in order to obtain the auxiliary information (ID3tag). The auxiliary information access control part C1021 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of the auxiliary information. Thesystem control part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traversemotor 113 according to the request of the auxiliary information accessto move the optical pickup 112 to a position of the destinationauxiliary information (ID3 tag) on the optical disk 110. The opticalpickup 112 reads out the destination auxiliary information (ID3 tag).The playback control part E1020 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3tag) having been read to output and displays it.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state in which the optical pickup 112 ismoved by the traverse motor 113 to read out the playback data recordingpart 710 and the auxiliary information recording part 711 of the audiodata of one-music-piece recorded on the optical disk 110. Contiguousrecording regions, each consisting of the playback data recording part710 and the auxiliary information recording part 711 of audio data ofone-music-piece, are provided as many number as recorded number of musicpieces on the optical disk 110. In FIG. 7, one of the recording regionsconsisting of the audio data 710 and the auxiliary information recordingpart 711 of one-music-piece is enlarged and shown. FIG. 7( b) is anenlarged view of a part of FIG. 7( a). In FIG. 10, in the case that theabove-mentioned PLAY key-inputting is made, the playback-data accesscontrol part 122 and the auxiliary information access control part C1021request to the system control part 114 accessing of the playback dataand the auxiliary information. The playback control part E1020 isrequired to output the ID3 tag (e.g. title name), which is the auxiliaryinformation, at the time of starting the playback. Therefore, as shownin FIG. 7, in the case that the MP3 data are played, the traverse motor113 moves the optical pickup 112 not directly to a position (1), whichis the head position of the MP3 audio data recorded on the playback datarecording part 710, but rather to a position (3) in order to obtain theID3 tag recorded on the auxiliary information recording part 711according to the request of the auxiliary information access. While thetraverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 from the position (3) tothe position (4), the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag. Then,after completion of reading the ID3 tag, the traverse motor 113 puts theoptical pickup 112 back to the position (1) according to the request ofthe playback data access so as to play the MP3 audio data recorded inthe playback data recording part 710. During the while the traversemotor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 from the position (1) to theposition (2), the optical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audio data. Thesystem control part 114 outputs the playback signal.

In the recording medium control apparatus of the prior art, in the casethat the auxiliary information ID3 tag is added at the end of the MP3audio data which are the playback data, since the auxiliary informationID3 tag is required to be obtained prior to the playback, a mechanicalaction putting the optical pickup back to the head of the music dataagain is required after moving the optical pickup to the end of themusic data once using the traverse motor and obtaining the ID3 tag. Toplay one-piece of music, the traverse motor 113 is driven twice, and itstotal driving distance is longer than that in the case that the traversemotor moves from the head to the end of the recording region of the MP3data 610 once. Therefore, when this optical disk control apparatusoperates with a battery of which power source supply capacity is finite,there has been a problem that more of the remaining capacity of thebattery is consumed, and as a result, the operation duration time of theapparatus becomes short.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention intends to realize a recording medium controlapparatus and the recording medium control method for restrainingconsumption of current in an access part by decreasing the movement ofthe access part as much as possible to increase battery operationduration time.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention hasconfigurations described below.

A recording medium control apparatus according to one aspect of thepresent invention is to execute control for a spindle motor for rotatinga recording medium, a pickup for reading out data from the recordingmedium, and a motor for moving the pickup by a system control part, soas to execute playback data access control for accessing playback datato play the playback data from the recording medium by a playback-dataaccess control part, and auxiliary information access control foraccessing an auxiliary information in order to obtain the auxiliaryinformation from the recording medium by an auxiliary information accesscontrol part according to a playback control part, over the recordingmedium on which one or more sets of the playback data and the auxiliaryinformation that is associated with the playback data is recorded, andthe recording medium control apparatus includes an auxiliary informationstorage part for storing the auxiliary information that is associatedwith the playback data recorded on the recording medium, and anauxiliary information access necessity determining part for determiningwhether or not an access instruction is to be issued according towhether or not the auxiliary information of the playback data to beplayed next is present in the auxiliary information storage part, andthe apparatus has a configuration wherein, in the case that theauxiliary information that is associated with the playback data to beplayed next is present in the auxiliary information storage part, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part does not issuean instruction for accessing the auxiliary information to the auxiliaryinformation access control part, and the auxiliary information accesscontrol part obtains the auxiliary information that is associated withthe playback data to be played next from the auxiliary informationstorage part.

A recording medium control apparatus according to another aspect of thepresent invention, as a basic configuration, is to execute control for aspindle motor for rotating a recording medium, a pickup for reading outdata from the recording medium, and a traverse motor for moving thepickup by a system control part, so as to execute playback data accesscontrol for accessing playback data to play the playback data from therecording medium by a playback-data access control part, and auxiliaryinformation access control for accessing an auxiliary information inorder to obtain the auxiliary information from the recording medium byan auxiliary information access control part according to a playbackcontrol part, over the recording medium on which one or more sets of theplayback data and the auxiliary information that is associated with theplayback data is recorded, and the recording medium control apparatusincludes a playback ID management table part for managing a playback IDthat is an unique ID (an identifier) that can identify the set of theplayback data and the auxiliary-information that is associated with theplayback data on the recording medium, an auxiliary information storagepart for storing the auxiliary information that is associated with theplayback data, and a playback ID storing part for storing a presentplayback ID that is the playback ID of the playback data presently beingplayed, a playback ID comparing part for comparing a next playback IDthat is the playback ID of the playback data to be played next with thepresent playback ID stored in the playback ID storing part, and anauxiliary information access necessity determining part for determiningwhether or not an instruction of auxiliary information access is to beissued according to comparison results of the playback ID comparingpart, and the apparatus has a configuration wherein, in the case thatthe next playback ID and the present playback ID that is stored in theplayback ID storing part are compared by the playback ID comparing partto be equivalent, the auxiliary information access necessity determiningpart does not issue an instruction for accessing the auxiliaryinformation to the auxiliary information access control part, and theauxiliary information access control part obtains the auxiliaryinformation that is associated with the playback data of the nextplayback ID from the auxiliary information storage part at playback ofthe playback data of the next playback ID.

A recording medium control apparatus according to another aspect of thepresent invention, as a development of the above-mentioned basicconfiguration, is to include a repeat playback determining part fordetermining whether or not an instruction of repeat playback forrepeat-playing the present playback data is issued, and an auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part for determining whether ornot an instruction of auxiliary information access is to be issuedaccording to determination results of the repeat playback determiningpart, and the apparatus has a configuration wherein in the case that theplayback control part controls repeat-playing the present playback data,the auxiliary information access necessity determining part does notissue an instruction for accessing the auxiliary information to theauxiliary information access control part, and the auxiliary informationaccess control part obtains the auxiliary information that is associatedwith the present playback data from the auxiliary information storagepart at playback of the present playback data by the playback dataaccess for the repeat playback.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, as a development of the above-mentioned basicconfiguration, is to include an auxiliary information storage part forstoring the auxiliary information that is associated with the playbackdata, a reverse-skip key determining part for determining whether or notan instruction for executing playback data access control to access ahead of the present playback data or a point preceding a presentplayback position of the present playback data and to start playback isissued, and the apparatus has a configuration wherein, in the case thatthe playback control part executes the playback data access control toaccess the head of the present playback data or the point preceding thepresent playback position of the present playback data and to startplayback, the auxiliary information access necessity determining partdoes not issue an instruction for accessing the auxiliary information tothe auxiliary information access control part, and the auxiliaryinformation access control part obtains the auxiliary information thatis associated with the present playback data from the auxiliaryinformation storage part.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, in the above-mentioned basic configuration,has a configuration wherein the auxiliary information storage part is anauxiliary information record storage part for storing a plurality of theauxiliary information, each associated with the playback data, withkeeping correspondence with the playback ID, and the playback ID storingpart is a playback ID record storing part for storing a plurality of theplayback IDs of the playback data that have been played in the past, andwherein, in the case that the next playback ID that is the playback IDof the playback data to be played next and a plurality of the playbackIDs stored in the playback ID record storing part by the playback IDcomparing part are compared whether they are identical to each other,the auxiliary information access necessity determining part does notissue an instruction for accessing the auxiliary information to theauxiliary information access control part, and the auxiliary informationaccess control part obtains the auxiliary information that is associatedwith the playback data of the next playback ID from the auxiliaryinformation storage part based on the playback ID at playback of theplayback data of the next playback ID.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, in the above-mentioned basic configuration,has a configuration wherein the auxiliary information storage part is anauxiliary information record storage part for storing a plurality of theauxiliary information, each associated with the playback data, withkeeping correspondence with the playback ID, and the playback ID storingpart is a playback ID record storing part for storing a plurality of theplayback IDs of the playback data that have been played in the past, therecording medium control apparatus further comprising a playbackfrequency determining part for monitoring the playback ID stored byplayback ID record storing part, deleting a rare playback ID that is lowplayback frequency from the playback ID record storing part, and at thesame time, deleting the auxiliary information corresponding to the rareplayback ID from the auxiliary information record storage part, wherein,in the case that the next playback ID that is the playback ID of theplayback data to be played next and a plurality of the playback IDsstored in the playback ID record storing part are compared whether theyare identical to each other by the playback ID comparing part, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part does not issuean instruction for accessing the auxiliary information to the auxiliaryinformation access control part, and the auxiliary information accesscontrol part obtains the auxiliary information that is associated withthe playback data of the next playback ID from the auxiliary informationstorage part based on the playback ID at playback of the playback dataof the next playback ID.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, in the configurations of the above-mentionedrespective developments, has a configuration wherein the playback IDmanagement table part manages both the unique ID that can identify theset of the playback data and the auxiliary information that isassociated with the playback data on the recording medium and the uniqueID that can identify the recording medium among a plurality of groups ofrecording media as the playback ID.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, as a development of the above-mentioned basicconfiguration, has a configuration wherein the auxiliary information isbibliographic information that is different from information requiredfor the access to the playback data on the recording medium.

A recording medium control apparatus according to still another aspectof the present invention, as a development of the above-mentioned basicconfiguration, has a configuration wherein the playback ID and theauxiliary information corresponding thereto are stored in a contiguousregion on the recording medium.

A recording medium control method of the present invention according tostill another aspect of the present invention is to include thefollowing steps of: rotating a recording-medium on which one or moresets of playback data and an auxiliary information that is associatedwith the playback data is recorded, making a pickup access the auxiliaryinformation recorded on the recording medium in order to obtain theauxiliary information, and storing the auxiliary information in anauxiliary information storage part, rotating the recording medium andmaking the pickup access the playback data corresponding to theauxiliary information recorded on the recording medium in order toobtain the playback data, determining whether or not the auxiliaryinformation associated with the playback data to be played next ispresent in the auxiliary information storage part, and obtaining theauxiliary information from the auxiliary information storage part in thecase that the auxiliary information associated with the playback data tobe played next is present in the auxiliary information storage part.

According to the above-mentioned respective configurations, therecording medium control apparatus and the recording medium controlmethod of the present invention do not execute the control obtaining theauxiliary information from the recording medium at the next playback inthe case that an ID of audio data to be played next has been played inthe past. The auxiliary information from the auxiliary informationstorage part or the auxiliary information record storage part can bereused without moving the pickup. Thereby, the consumption of current inthe access part can be restrained, and increase of a battery operationduration time can be realized.

Moreover, the present invention realizes a recording medium controlapparatus that suppresses the consumption of current by using aninternal memory for storing the auxiliary information.

While the novel features of the invention are set forth particularly inthe appended claims, the invention, both as to organization and content,will be better understood and appreciated, along with other objects andfeatures thereof, from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus (an optical disk control apparatus) in accordance withEmbodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of MP3 data which are musicdata;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a playback data recordingpart and an auxiliary information recording part and an operation of anoptical pickup reading out those data;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a playback ID management tablein respective Embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a playback ID management tablein respective Embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording mediumcontrol apparatus (an optical disk control apparatus) of a prior art;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of playback ofthe recording medium control apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 1of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of playback ofthe recording medium control apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 2of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of playback ofthe recording medium control apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 3of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of playback ofthe recording medium control apparatus in accordance with Embodiment 4of the present invention.

It will be recognized that some or all of the figures are schematicrepresentations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarilydepict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

A recording medium control apparatus and a recording medium controlmethod embodied in Embodiment 1 of the present invention will beexplained referring to the drawings. In the following respectiveEmbodiments, descriptions are given so that an exchangeable optical diskis used as a recording medium and MP3 (Mpeg Audio Layer 3) is recordedas data thereon. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of anoptical disk control apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention,FIG. 6 is a diagram-showing a data configuration of the MP3 data whichare music data, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a playbackdata recording part 710 and an auxiliary information recording part 711on the exchangeable optical disk and an operation of an optical pickupreading out those data, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example ofthe playback ID management table. Contiguous recording regions, eachconsisting of a playback data recording part 710 and an auxiliaryinformation part 711 of audio data of one-music-piece, are provided asmany number of as the recorded pieces of music on an optical disk 110.In FIG. 7, one of the recording regions consisting of the audio data 710and the auxiliary information recording part 711 of one-music-piece isenlarged and shown. FIG. 7( b) is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 7(a).

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disk control apparatus 100 includes aspindle motor 111, an optical pickup 112, a traverse motor 113, a systemcontrol part 114, a playback control part A120, an auxiliary informationaccess control part A121, a playback-data access control part 122, aplayback ID management table part 124, a playback ID storing part 125, aplayback ID comparing part A126, an auxiliary information accessnecessity determining part A127, and an auxiliary information storagepart A128. Among those mentioned above, elements denoted by the samenumerals as those in FIG. 10 showing the configuration of the opticaldisk control apparatus of the prior art, have the same functions.

In Embodiment 1, a part of functions of the system control part 114, andfunctions of the playback control part A120, the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121, the playback-data access control part 122, theplayback ID comparing part A126, and the auxiliary information accessnecessity determining part A127 are executed by a program of amicrocomputer for example.

The playback control part A120 controls the whole playback operation.The auxiliary information access control part A121 controls the accessfor obtaining the auxiliary information under control of the auxiliaryinformation access control part A120. The playback-data access controlpart 122 controls the access for obtaining the playback data undercontrol of the playback control part A120.

As shown in FIG. 6, the MP3 data 610, which are music data, consists ofMP3 audio data 611, which is a playback data part, and an ID3 tag 612,which is the auxiliary information part added to the end of the MP3audio data 611. That is, a set of the playback data 611 and theauxiliary information 612 is stored piece by piece of music in thecontiguous region on the recording medium. The auxiliary information isbibliographic information (e.g. title name, artist name, album name orthe like) excluding the information that is necessary to access therecording medium (for example, head address and recording position ofthe playback data and so on). There is also a case that the ID3 tag 612,which is the auxiliary information part, is added to the head of the MP3audio data 611. In addition, a plurality of sets of the MP3 data 610consisting of the MP3 audio data 611 and the ID3 tag 612 are recorded onthe optical disk 110 in FIG. 1.

The optical disk control apparatus 100 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to the drawings. In the optical disk controlapparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, while the optical disk 110 is beingrotated by the spindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112 is moved by thetraverse motor 113. The optical pickup 112 reads out the data recordedon the optical disk 110. The system control part 114 processes the datahaving been read and outputs a sound L channel signal and a sound Rchannel signal as a playback signal. In addition, the system controlpart 114 executes focus servo control and tracking servo control of theoptical pickup 112 when reading out the data from the optical disk 110,rotation control of the spindle motor 111 for stable rotation of theoptical disk 110, and moving control of the traverse motor 113 formoving the optical pickup 112 to a destination access position on theoptical disk 110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, the playbackcontrol part A120 operates according to the key input. For example, whena PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playback controlpart A120 instructs the playback-data access control part 122 to play asignal, and then the playback-data access control part 122 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113, which are access parts, according to the request of the playbackdata access to move the optical pickup 112 to a destination position ofthe playback data on the optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 readsout a destination playback data. The system control part 114 processedthe data having been read to output the sound L channel signal and thesound R channel signal as the playback signal.

Furthermore, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data, the playback control part A120 instructs theauxiliary information access control part A121 in order to obtain theauxiliary information (ID3 tag), and then the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121 requests to the system control part 114accessing of the auxiliary information. The system control part 114controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor 113 according tothe request of the auxiliary information access to move the opticalpickup 112 to a position of the destination auxiliary information (ID3tag) on the optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out thedestination auxiliary information (ID3 tag). The playback control partA120 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) having been read tooutput and displays it.

In FIG. 7, the state in which the playback data recording part 710 isarranged on the inner periphery and the auxiliary information recordingpart 711 is arranged on the outer periphery on the optical disk 110driven to rotate by the spindle motor 111 is illustrated, and also thesituation in which the optical pickup 112 moves to either side by thetraverse motor 113 as the arrow indicates is illustrated. In FIG. 1, inthe case that the above-mentioned PLAY key-inputting is made, theplayback-data access control part 122 and the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121 request to the system control part 114accessing of playback data and an auxiliary information. In this case,the playback control part A120 is required to output and display the ID3tag (e.g. title name or the like), which is the auxiliary information,using a display medium such as an LCD display or the like at the time ofthe start of playback. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when playing theMP3 data, the traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 notdirectly to the position (1), which is the head position of the MP3audio data recorded on the playback data recording part 710, but in thefirst place to a position (3) in order to obtain the ID3 tag recorded onthe auxiliary information recording part 711 according to the request ofthe auxiliary information access. While the traverse motor 113 moves theoptical pickup 112 from the position (3) to the position (4), theoptical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag. Then, after completion ofreading the ID3 tag, the traverse motor 113 puts the optical pickup 112back to the position (1) according to the request of the playback dataaccess so as to play the MP3 audio data recorded in the playback datarecording part 710. During the while the traverse motor 113 moves theoptical pickup 112 from the position (1) to the position (2), theoptical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audio data. The system control part114 outputs the playback signal.

Here, the operation that the auxiliary information access control partA121 requests to the system control part 114 accessing of an auxiliaryinformation will be explained in further detail. The playback controlpart A120 manages the playback ID management table part 124. A playbackID management table A824, which is an example of the playback IDmanagement table 124, is shown in FIG. 8. The playback ID managementtable A824 is a table in which unique playback IDs (1 to N) arerespectively given to a plurality of the MP3 audio data recorded on theoptical disk 110, and the absolute recording positions on the opticaldisk 110 respectively correspond to those MP3 audio data. However, theplayback IDs are not necessarily limited to be natural and consecutivenumbers, and also the absolute recording positions are not alwaysnecessary. The playback control part A120 refers to such the playback IDmanagement table A824, and the playback ID of the MP3 audio datapresently being played is temporarily stored in the playback ID storingpart 125 during the playback operation.

In addition, at the same time, the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) addedto the MP3 audio data presently being played is stored in the auxiliaryinformation storage part A128. At the time when the playback of the MP3audio data presently being played is finished, the control flow proceedsto a process of playback of the next MP3 audio data. At this time, theplayback ID comparing part A126 compares the playback ID of the MP3audio data to be played next with the playback ID of the MP3 audio dataplayed in the last time and temporarily stored in the playback IDstoring part 125 earlier; and if they are identical IDs, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part A127 instructs theauxiliary information access control part A121 not to access theauxiliary information but to reuse the auxiliary information. Theauxiliary information access control part A121 does not request to thesystem control part 114 accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliaryinformation from the optical disk 110 but request to the auxiliaryinformation storage part A128 in order to obtain the auxiliaryinformation (ID3 tag) stored therein to realize the reuse of theauxiliary information (ID3 tag).

Comparison between the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to be playednext and a playback ID of the MP3 audio data that are temporarily storedin the playback ID storing part 125 earlier and have been played lasttime is executed; if both IDs are not identical to each other, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part A127 instructsthe auxiliary information access control part A121 to access theauxiliary information. The auxiliary information access control partA121 requests to the system control part 114 accessing for re-obtainingthe auxiliary information from the optical disk 110.

In addition, the playback operation (the recording medium controlmethod) of the recording medium control apparatus in Embodiment 1 in thecase that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) is added to the playbackdata is described referring to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showingthe playback operation of the recording medium control apparatus ofEmbodiment 1.

First of all, the PLAY key-inputting is checked (at step S1101), thecontrol flow proceeds to step S1102 when the PLAY key is inputted, orreturns to step S1101 when the PLAY key is not inputted.

Next, the playback ID comparing part A126 compares the playback ID ofthe MP3 audio data to be played next with the playback ID of the MP3audio data played immediately before and stored in the playback IDstoring part 125 (at step S1102), and checks whether or not bothplayback IDs are identical to each other (at step S1103). When bothplayback IDs are not identical to each other, the traverse motor 113moves the optical pickup 112 to reading start position of the ID3 tag(at step S1104). While the traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup112, the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag of the MP3 audio datato be played next (at step S1105). The ID3 tag having been read and theplayback ID of the MP3 audio data to be played are stored respectivelyin the auxiliary information storage part A128 and the playback IDstoring part 125 (at step S1106). The control flow proceeds to stepS1107. In step S1103, when both playback IDs are identical to eachother, the control flow proceeds to step S1107.

Next, the playback control part A120 displays the ID3 tag stored in theauxiliary information storage part A128 onto the display medium (at stepS1107). The traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 to theplayback data reading start position (at step S1108). The optical pickup112 reads out the playback data. The system control part 114 outputs theplayback data (at step S1109). Examining whether or not the playback iscompleted (at step S1110), the control flow terminates if the playbackis completed; and the control flow returns to step S1109 and continuesto read out and output the playback data if the playback is notcompleted.

As described above, in the recording medium control apparatus and therecording medium control method in Embodiment 1, in the case that theMP3 audio data that have been played last time are again played, theamount of displacement of the optical pickup is small, and the powerconsumption is low.

Embodiment 2

A recording medium control apparatus and a recording medium controlmethod embodied in Embodiment 2 of the present invention will beexplained referring to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing aconfiguration of an optical disk control apparatus of Embodiment 2 ofthe present invention; and the above-described FIGS. 6 and 7 are alsoreferred to explain.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical disk control apparatus 200 includes thespindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112, the traverse motor 113, thesystem control part 114, a playback control part B220, the auxiliaryinformation access control part A121, the playback-data access controlpart 122, a one-music-piece repeat determining part 226, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part A127, and an auxiliaryinformation storage part B228. Blocks having the same functions as thosein Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same numerals.

In Embodiment 2, a part of function of system control part 114, andfunctions of the playback control part B220, the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121, the playback-data access control part 122, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part A127 and theone-music-piece repeat determining part 226 are executed by a program ofa microcomputer for example.

The playback control part B220 controls the whole playback operation.The auxiliary information access control part A121 controls the accessto obtain the auxiliary information under control of the playbackcontrol part B220. The playback-data access control part 122 controlsthe access to obtain playback data under control of the playback controlpart B220.

A plurality of sets of the MP3 audio data 610 consisting of the MP3audio data 611 and the ID3 tag 612 shown in FIG. 6 is recorded on theoptical disk 110 shown in FIG. 2.

The optical disk control apparatus 200 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, whilethe optical disk control apparatus 200 is rotating the optical disk 110by the spindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112 is moved by thetraverse motor 113.

The optical pickup 112 reads out the data recorded on the optical disk110. The system control part 114 processes the data having been read andoutputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channel signal as theplayback signal. In addition, the system control part 114 executes focusservo control and tracking servo control of the optical pickup 112 whenreading out the data from the optical disk 110, rotation control of thespindle motor 111 for stable rotation of the optical disk 110, androtation control of the traverse motor 113 for moving the optical pickup112 to a destination access position on the optical disk 110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, the playbackcontrol part B220 operates according to the key input. For example, whena PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playback controlpart B220 instructs the playback-data access control part 122 to play asignal, and then the playback-data access control part 122 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113 according to the request of the playback data access to move theoptical pickup 112 to the destination position of the playback data onthe optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out the destinationplayback data. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal.

Furthermore, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data, the playback control part B220 instructs theauxiliary information access control part A121 in order to obtain theauxiliary information (ID3 tag), and then the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121 requests to the system control part 114accessing of the auxiliary information. The system control part 114controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor 113 according tothe request of the auxiliary information access to move the opticalpickup 112 to a position of the destination auxiliary information (ID3data) on the optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out thedestination auxiliary information (ID3 tag). The playback control partB220 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) having been read tooutput and displays it.

In FIG. 2, in the case that the above-mentioned PLAY key-inputting ismade, the playback-data access control part 122 and the auxiliaryinformation access control part A121 request to the system control part114 accessing of playback data and an auxiliary information; but sincethe playback control part B220 is required to output and display the ID3tag (e.g. title name or the like), which is the auxiliary information,at the time of start of playback, the traverse motor 113 moves theoptical pickup 112 not directly to the position (1), which is the headposition of the MP3 audio data recorded on the playback data recordingpart 710, but in the first place to the position (3) in order to obtainthe ID3 tag recorded on the auxiliary information recording part 711according to the request of the auxiliary information access whenplaying the MP3 data, as shown in FIG. 7. While the traverse motor 113moves the optical pickup 112 from the position (3) to the position (4),the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag. Then, after completion ofreading of the ID3 tag, the traverse motor 113 puts the optical pickup112 back to the position (1) according to the request of the playbackdata access so as to play the MP3 audio data recorded on the playbackdata recording part 710. During the while the traverse motor 113 movesthe optical pickup 112 from the position (1) to the position (2), theoptical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audio data. The system control part114 outputs the playback signal.

Here, the operation that the auxiliary information access control partA121 requests to the system control part 114 accessing of auxiliaryinformation will be explained in further detail. The playback controlpart B220 can control the order of playback (playback modes) by means ofthe key input or some other means. The term the playback modes hererepresent, for example: “one-music-piece repeat” for playing repeatedlyonly one-piece of music of MP3 audio data, “all-music-piece repeat” forplaying repeatedly all the pieces of music of MP3 audio data recoded onthe optical disk 110, “random” for playing in random order all thepieces of music of MP3 audio data recorded on an optical disk 110, and“random repeat” for playing repeatedly in random order all the pieces ofmusic of MP3 audio data recorded on the optical disk 110, and so on. Theplayback control part B220 operates according to such the playback modesas mentioned above. During the playback operation, the auxiliaryinformation (ID3 tag) added to the MP3 audio data presently being playedis stored in the auxiliary information storage part B228. In addition,at the time when the playback of the MP3 audio data presently beingplayed is finished, the control flow proceeds to a process of theplayback of next MP3 audio data. At this time, the one-music-piecerepeat determining part 226 determines whether or not the playback modeis the one-music-piece repeat for playing repeatedly the data presentlybeing played. If the playback mode is the one-music-piece repeat, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part A127 instructsthe auxiliary information access control part A121 not to access theauxiliary information but to reuse the auxiliary information. Theauxiliary information access control part A121 does not request to thesystem control part 114 accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliaryinformation from the optical disk 110 but request to the auxiliaryinformation storage part B228 in order to obtain the auxiliaryinformation (ID3 tag) stored therein to realize the reuse of theauxiliary information (ID3 tag).

If the playback mode is not the one-music-piece repeat, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part A127 instructs theauxiliary information access control part A121 to access the auxiliaryinformation. The auxiliary information access control part A121 requeststo the system control part 114 accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliaryinformation from the optical disk 110.

The playback operation of the recording medium control apparatus ofEmbodiment 2 in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data is described referring to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 isa flow chart showing the playback operation of the recording mediumcontrol apparatus of Embodiment 2.

A flow chart of FIG. 12 is different from that of FIG. 11 in the pointthat it has steps S1202, S1203, and S1206 instead of steps S1102, S1103,and S1106, and step S1101 is removed. In other respects, they aresimilar to those of FIG. 11.

At the time of the playback of the next peace of music, theone-music-piece repeat determining part 226 determines whether or notthe playback mode presently selected is “one-piece of music repeat mode”(at step S1202), and checks whether or not the playback mode presentlyselected is “one-music-piece repeat mode” (at step S1203). When theplayback mode presently selected is not “one-music-piece repeat mode”,the traverse motor 113 moves the pickup 112 to the ID3 tag reading startposition (at step S1104). While the traverse motor 113 moves the opticalpickup 112, the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag of the MP3audio data to be played next (at step S1105). The ID3 tag having beenread is stored in the auxiliary information storage part B228 (at stepS1206). Then, the control flow proceeds to step S1107.

In step S1203, when the playback mode presently selected is“one-music-piece repeat mode”, the control flow proceeds to step S1107.Since steps following step S1107 are the same as those of FIG. 11, theirdescriptions are omitted.

As described above, in the recording medium control apparatus inEmbodiment 2, in the case that the MP3 audio data that have been playedlast time are again played, the amount of displacement of the opticalpickup is small, and the power consumption is low.

Embodiment 3

A recording medium control apparatus and a recording medium controlmethod embodied in Embodiment 3 of the present invention will beexplained referring to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing aconfiguration of an optical disk control apparatus of Embodiment 3 ofthe present invention; and the above-described FIGS. 6 and 7 are alsoreferred to explain.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical disk control apparatus 300 includes thespindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112, the traverse motor 113, thesystem control part 114, a playback control part C320, the auxiliaryinformation access control part A121, the playback-data access controlpart 122, a REVERSE-SKIP key determining part 326, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part A127, and the auxiliaryinformation storage part B228. Blocks having the same functions as thosein the above-mentioned Embodiments are denoted by the same numerals.

In Embodiment 3, a part of the function of system control part 114,functions of the playback control part C320, the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121, the playback-data access control part 122,auxiliary information access necessity determining part A127, andREVERSE-SKIP key determining part 326 are executed by a program of amicrocomputer for example.

The playback control part C320 controls the whole playback operation.The auxiliary information access control part A121 controls the accessto obtain the auxiliary information under control of the playbackcontrol part C320. The playback-data access control part 122 controlsthe access to obtain playback data under control of the playback controlpart C320.

A plurality of sets of the MP3 data 610 consisting of the MP3 audio data611 and the ID3 tag 612 shown in FIG. 6 is recorded on the optical disk110 in FIG. 3.

The optical disk control apparatus 300 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows theconfiguration of the optical disk control apparatus 300. While theoptical disk 110 is being rotated by the spindle motor 111, the opticalpickup 112 is moved by the traverse motor 113. The optical pickup 112reads out the data recorded on the optical disk 110. The system controlpart 114 processes the data having been read and outputs the sound Lchannel signal and the sound R channel signal as the playback signal. Inaddition, the system control part 114 executes focus servo control andtracking servo control of the optical pickup 112 when reading out thedata from the optical disk 110, rotation control of the spindle motor111 for stable rotation of the optical disk 110, and rotation control ofthe traverse motor 113 for moving the optical pickup 112 to adestination access position on the optical disk 110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, the playbackcontrol part C320 operates according to the key input. For example, whena PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playback controlpart C320 instructs the playback-data access control part 122 to play asignal, and then the playback-data access control part 122 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of the playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113 according to the request of the playback data access to move theoptical pickup 112 to the destination position of the playback data onthe optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out the destinationplayback data. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal.

Furthermore, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data, the playback control part C320 instructs theauxiliary information access control part A121 in order to obtain theauxiliary information (ID3 tag), and then the auxiliary informationaccess control part A121 requests to the system control part 114accessing of the auxiliary information. The system control part 114controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor 113 according tothe request of the auxiliary information access to move the opticalpickup 112 to a position of the destination auxiliary information (ID3tag) on the optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out thedestination auxiliary information (ID3 tag). The playback control partC320 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) having been read tooutput and displays it.

In FIG. 3, in the case that the above-mentioned PLAY key-inputting ismade, the playback-data access control part 122 and the auxiliaryinformation access control part A121 request to the system control part114 accessing of playback data and an auxiliary information. In thiscase, the playback control part C320 is required to output and displaythe ID3 tag (e.g. title name or the like), which is the auxiliaryinformation, at the time of start of playback. Therefore, the traversemotor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 not directly to the position (1),which is the head position of the MP3 audio data recorded on theplayback data recording part 710, but in the first place to the position(3) in order to obtain the ID3 tag recorded on the auxiliary informationrecording part 711 according to the request of the auxiliary informationaccess when playing the MP3 data, as shown in FIG. 7. While the traversemotor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 from the position (3) to theposition (4), the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag. Then, aftercompletion of reading of the ID3 tag, the traverse motor 113 puts theoptical pickup 112 back to the position (1) according to the request ofthe playback data access so as to play the MP3 audio data recorded onthe playback data recording part 710. While the traverse motor 113 movesthe optical pickup 112 from the position (1) to the position (2), theoptical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audio data. The system control part114 outputs the playback signal.

Here, the operation that the auxiliary information access control partA121 requests to the system control part 114 accessing of an auxiliaryinformation, will be explained in further detail. The playback controlpart C320 can control the playback positions by means of the key inputor some other means. The term the playback positions here are decided bymeans of the key input or some other means, such as “a PLAY key” formaking the optical disk control apparatus 300 to start the playback fromthe head position of a certain playback data, “a FORWARD-SKIP key” formaking transition from an MP3 audio data presently being played to theplayback operation of the next MP3 audio data, “a REVERSE-SKIP key” formaking transition to operation for resuming the playback from the head(or intermediate) position of an MP3 audio data presently being played,or the like. The playback control part C320 operates according to thekey inputs or other means for deciding the playback position. During theplayback operation, the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) added to the MP3audio data presently being played is stored in an auxiliary informationstorage part B228. In addition, in case for example, any key input (orinput from some other means) is occurred, the playback control part C320changes the operation state according to the key input (or the inputfrom some other means). At this time, the REVERSE-SKIP key determiningpart 326 determines whether or not the instruction type of the key input(or the input from some other means) is a REVERSE-SKIP key for resumingthe playback from the head of data presently being played or from someposition prior to the position at which the playback is presently beingperformed. If the instruction type of the key input is a REVERSE-SKIPkey, the auxiliary information access necessity determining part A127instructs the auxiliary information access control part A121 not toaccess the auxiliary information but to reuse the auxiliary information.The auxiliary information access control part A121 does not request tothe system control part 114 accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliaryinformation from the optical disk 110 but request to the auxiliaryinformation storage part B228 in order to obtain the auxiliaryinformation (ID3 tag) stored therein to realize the reuse of theauxiliary information (ID3 tag).

If the instruction type of the key input is not REVERSE-SKIP key, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part A127 instructsthe auxiliary information access control part A121 to access theauxiliary information. The auxiliary information access control partA121 requests to the system control part 114 accessing for re-obtainingthe auxiliary information from the optical disk 110.

In the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) is added to theplayback data, the playback operation (recording medium control method)of the recording medium control apparatus of Embodiment 3 is describedreferring to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the playbackoperation of the recording medium control apparatus of Embodiment 3.

The flow chart of FIG. 13 is different from that of FIG. 11 in the pointthat it has steps S1302, S1303, and S1306 instead of steps S1102, S1103,and S1106 and step S1101 is removed. In other respects, they are similarto those of FIG. 11.

In the case that a key-inputting is made during the playback, theREVERSE-SKIP key determining part 326 determines whether or not theinputted key is “REVERSE-SKIP key” (at step S1302), and checks whetheror not the inputted key is “REVERSE-SKIP key” (at step S1303). When thekey is not “REVERSE-SKIP key”, the traverse motor 113 moves the opticalpickup 112 to the ID3 tag reading start position (at step S1104). Whilethe traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112, the optical pickup112 reads out the ID3 tag of the MP3 audio data to be played next (atstep S1105). The ID3 tag having been read is stored in the auxiliaryinformation storage part B228 (at step S1306). Then, the control flowproceeds to step S1107.

In step S1303, when the inputted key is “REVERSE-SKIP key”, the controlflow proceeds to step S1107. Since steps following step S1107 are thesame as those of FIG. 11, their descriptions are omitted.

As described above, in the recording medium control apparatus inEmbodiment 3, in the case that the MP3 audio data that have been playedlast time are again played, the amount of displacement of the opticalpickup is small, and the power consumption is low.

Embodiment 4

A recording medium control apparatus and a recording medium controlmethod embodied in Embodiment 4 of the present invention will beexplained referring to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing aconfiguration of an optical disk control apparatus of Embodiment 3 ofthe present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of aplayback ID management table; and the above-described FIGS. 6, 7 and 8are also referred to explain.

As shown in FIG. 4, the optical disk control apparatus 400 includes thespindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112, the traverse motor 113, thesystem control part 114, a playback control part D420, an auxiliaryinformation access control part B421, the playback-data access controlpart 122, the playback ID management table part 124, a playback IDrecord storing part A425, a playback ID comparing part B426, anauxiliary information access necessity determining part B427, and anauxiliary information record storage part A428. Blocks having the samefunctions as those in the above-mentioned Embodiments are denoted by thesame numerals.

In Embodiment 4, a part of functions of the system control part 114 andthe playback control part D420, functions of the auxiliary informationaccess control part B421, the playback-data access control part 122, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part B427 and theplayback ID comparator part B426 are executed by a program of amicrocomputer for example.

The playback control part D420 controls the whole playback operation.The auxiliary information access control part B421 controls the accessto obtain the auxiliary information under control of the playbackcontrol part D420. The playback-data access control part 122 controlsthe access to obtain playback data under control of the playback controlpart D420.

A plurality of sets of the MP3 data 610 consisting of the MP3 audio data611 and the ID3 tag 612 shown in FIG. 6 is recorded on the optical disk110 in FIG. 4.

The optical disk control apparatus 400 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 4, whilethe optical disk control apparatus 400 is rotating the optical disk 110by the spindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112 is moved by thetraverse motor 113. The optical pickup 112 reads out the data recordedon the optical disk 110. The system control part 114 processes the datahaving been read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound Rchannel signal as the playback signal. In addition, the system controlpart 114 executes focus servo control and tracking servo control of theoptical pickup 112 when reading out the data from the optical disk 110,rotation control of the spindle motor 111 for stable rotation of theoptical disk 110, and rotation control of the traverse motor 113 formoving the optical pickup 112 to a destination access position on theoptical disk 110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, the playbackcontrol part D420 operates according to the key input. For example, whena PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playback controlpart D420 instructs the playback-data access control part 122 to play asignal, and then the playback-data access control part 122 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of the playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113 according to the request of the playback data access to move theoptical pickup 112 to the destination position of the playback data onthe optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out the destinationplayback data. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal.

Furthermore, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data, the playback control part D420 instructs theauxiliary information access control part B421 in order to obtain theauxiliary information (ID3 tag), and then the auxiliary informationaccess control part B421 requests to the system control part 114accessing of the auxiliary information. The system control part 114controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor 113 according tothe request of the auxiliary information access to move the opticalpickup 112 to a position of the destination auxiliary information (ID3data) on the optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out thedestination auxiliary information (ID3 tag). The playback control partD420 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) having been read tooutput and displays it.

In FIG. 4, in the case that the above-mentioned PLAY key-inputting ismade, the playback-data access control part 122 and the auxiliaryinformation access control part B421 request to the system control part114 accessing of playback data and an auxiliary information. In thiscase, the playback control part D420 is required to output and displaythe ID3 tag (e.g. title name or the like), which is the auxiliaryinformation, at the time of start of playback. Therefore, the traversemotor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 not directly to the position (1),which is the head position of the MP3 audio data recorded on theplayback data recording part 710, but rather to the position (3) inorder to obtain the ID3 tag recorded on the auxiliary informationrecording part 711 according to the request of the auxiliary informationaccess when playing an MP3 data, as shown in FIG. 7. While the traversemotor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 from the position (3) to theposition (4), the optical pickup 112 reads out the ID3 tag. Then, aftercompletion of reading of the ID3 tag, the traverse motor 113 puts theoptical pickup 112 back to the position (1) according to the request ofthe playback data access so as to play the MP3 audio data recorded onthe playback data recording part 710. While the traverse motor 113 movesthe optical pickup 112 from the position (1) to the position (2), theoptical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audio data. The system control part114 outputs the playback signal.

Here, the operation that the auxiliary information access control partB421 requests to the system control part 114 accessing of an auxiliaryinformation will be explained in further detail. The playback controlpart D420 manages the playback ID management table part 124. Theplayback management table A824, which is an example of the playback IDmanagement table 124 shown in FIG. 4, is a table in which uniqueplayback IDs (1 to N) are respectively given to a plurality of the MP3audio data recorded on the optical disk 110, and the absolute recordingpositions on the optical disk 110 respectively correspond to those MP3audio data. However, the playback IDs are not necessarily limited to benatural and consecutive numbers, and also the absolute recordingpositions are not always necessary. The playback control part D420refers to such the playback ID management table A824, and all of (orfinite number of) the playback IDs of the MP3 audio data played so farare temporarily stored in the playback ID record storing part A425during the playback operation. In addition, at the same time, theauxiliary information (ID3 tags) added to all of (or finite number of)the MP3 audio data played so far are stored in the auxiliary informationrecord storage part A428 keeping the correspondence with the playbackIDs. Next, when the playback of the MP3 audio data presently beingplayed is finished, the control flow proceeds to a process of playbackof the next MP3 audio data. At this time, the playback ID comparing partB426 compares the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to be played nextwith the playback IDs of all of (or finite number of) the MP3 audio dataplayed so far and temporarily stored in the auxiliary information recordstoring part A425. If they are identical IDs, the auxiliary informationaccess necessity determining part B427 instructs the auxiliaryinformation control part B421 not to access the auxiliary informationbut to reuse the auxiliary information together with the playback IDs.The auxiliary information access control part B421 does not request tothe system control part 114 accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliaryinformation from the optical disk 110 but request to the auxiliaryinformation record storage part A428 for obtaining the specifiedauxiliary information (ID3 tag) among the auxiliary information (ID3tag) stored therein to realize the reuse of the auxiliary information(ID3 tag).

Comparison between the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to be playednext and all of the playback IDs of the MP3 audio data temporarilystored in the playback ID record storing part A425 earlier is executed;if they are not identical IDs, the auxiliary information accessnecessity determining part B427 instructs the information access controlpart B421 to access the auxiliary information. The auxiliary informationaccess control part B421 requests to the system control part 114accessing for re-obtaining the auxiliary information from the opticaldisk 110.

Hereupon, in FIG. 9, the playback ID management table B924, which is anexample of the playback ID management table 124, is shown. The playbackID management table B924 is a table in which each unique optical disk ID(1 to M) is given to each optical disk so as to identify the opticaldisk 110, unique playback IDs (1 to N) on the optical disk 110 arerespectively given to a plurality of MP3 audio data recorded on theoptical disk 110, and also the absolute recording positions on theoptical disk 110 respectively correspond to those MP3 audio data.However, the optical disk IDs and the playback IDs are not limited to benatural and consecutive numbers; and the absolute recording positionsare not always necessary. As described above, by managing not only theplayback ID but also the optical disk ID, and at the same time, byprocessing in a similar way using a pair of an optical disk ID and aplayback ID as a playback ID at the playback ID record storing partA425, the playback ID comparing part B426, and the auxiliary informationrecord storage part A428, the above-mentioned process can be realizedastride a plurality of the optical disks.

The playback operation of the recording medium control apparatus ofEmbodiment 4, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the playback data, is described referring to FIG. 14. FIG. 14is a flow chart showing the playback operation of the recording mediumcontrol apparatus of Embodiment 4.

A flow chart of FIG. 14 is different from that of FIG. 11 in the pointthat it has steps S1402, S1403, and S1406 instead of steps S1102, S1103,and S1106. In other respects, they are similar to those of FIG. 11.

In the case that the PLAY key-inputting is made, the playback IDcomparing part B426 compares the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to beplayed next with all of the playback ID which are stored in the playbackID record storing part A425 (at step S1402), and checks whether or notan identical playback ID is present (at step S1403). When there are noidentical playback IDs, the traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup112 to the ID3 tag reading start position (at step S1104). While thetraverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112, the optical pickup 112reads out the ID3 tag of the MP3 audio data to be played next (at stepS1105). The ID3 tag having been read and the playback ID of the MP3audio data to be played are stored in the auxiliary information recordstorage part A428 and the playback ID record storing part 425,respectively (at step S1406). Then, the control flow proceeds to stepS1107. In step S1403, when there is an identical playback ID, thecontrol flow proceeds to step S1107. Since steps following step S1107are the same as those of FIG. 11, their descriptions are omitted.

As described above, in the recording medium control apparatus inEmbodiment 4, in the case that the MP3 audio data that have been playedlast time are again played, the amount of displacement of the opticalpickup is small, and hence the power consumption is low.

Embodiment 5

A recording medium control apparatus and a recording medium controlmethod embodied in Embodiment 5 of the present invention will beexplained referring to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing aconfiguration of an optical disk control apparatus of Embodiment 5 ofthe present invention; and the above-described FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are alsoreferred to explain.

As shown in FIG. 5, the optical disk control apparatus 500 includes thespindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112, the traverse motor 113, thesystem control part 114, the playback control part D420, the auxiliaryinformation access control part B421, the playback-data access controlpart 122, the playback ID management table part 124, a playback IDrecord storing part B525, the playback ID comparing part B426, theauxiliary information access necessity determining part B427, anauxiliary information record storage part B528, and a playback frequencydetermining part 529.

In Embodiment 5, a part of functions of the system control part 114 andthe playback control part D420, and functions of the auxiliaryinformation access control part B421, the playback-data access controlpart 122, the auxiliary information access necessity determining partB427, the playback ID comparing part B426, and the playback frequencydetermining part 529 are executed by a program of a microcomputer, forexample.

The playback control part D420 controls the whole playback operation.The auxiliary information access control part B421 controls the accessto obtain the auxiliary information under control of the playbackcontrol part D420. The playback-data access control part 122 controlsthe access to obtain the playback data under control of the playbackcontrol part D420.

A plurality of sets of MP3 audio data 610 comprised of MP3 audio data611 and ID3 tag 612 shown in FIG. 6 is recorded on the optical disk 110in FIG. 5.

The optical disk control apparatus 500 configured as described abovewill be explained referring to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows theconfiguration of the optical disk control apparatus 500. While theoptical disk control apparatus 500 is rotating the optical disk 110 bythe spindle motor 111, the optical pickup 112 is moved by the traversemotor 113. The optical pickup 112 reads out the data recorded on theoptical disk 110. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal. In addition, the system control part 114executes focus servo control and tracking servo control of the opticalpickup 112 when reading out the data on the optical disk 110, rotationcontrol of the spindle motor 111 for stable rotation of the optical disk110, and rotation control of the traverse motor 113 for moving theoptical pickup 112 to a destination access position on the optical disk110.

Hereupon, when a key-inputting from outside is made, the playbackcontrol part D420 operates according to the key input. For example, whena PLAY key-inputting is made in a stopped state, the playback controlpart D420 instructs the playback-data access control part 122 to play asignal, and then the playback-data access control part 122 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of playback data. The systemcontrol part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traverse motor113 according to the request of the playback data access to move theoptical pickup 112 to the destination position of the playback data onthe optical disk 110. The optical pickup 112 reads out the destinationplayback data. The system control part 114 processes the data havingbeen read and outputs the sound L channel signal and the sound R channelsignal as the playback signal. Furthermore, in the case that theauxiliary information (ID3 tag) is added to the playback data, theplayback control part D420 instructs the auxiliary information accesscontrol part B421 in order to obtain auxiliary information (ID3 tag),and then the auxiliary information access control part B421 requests tothe system control part 114 accessing of the auxiliary information. Thesystem control part 114 controls the spindle motor 111 and the traversemotor 113 according to the request of the auxiliary information accessto move the optical pickup 112 to a position of the destinationauxiliary information (ID3 tag) on the optical disk 110. The opticalpickup 112 reads out the destination auxiliary information (ID3 tag).The playback control part D420 analyzes the auxiliary information (ID3tag) having been read to output and displays it.

In FIG. 5, in the case that the above-mentioned PLAY key-inputting ismade, the playback-data access control part 122 and the auxiliaryinformation access control part B421 request to the system control part114 accessing of playback data and an auxiliary information. Theplayback control part D420 is required to output and display the ID3 tag(e.g. title name or the like), which is the auxiliary information, atthe time of start of playback. The traverse motor 113 moves the opticalpickup 112 not directly to the position (1), which is the head positionof the MP3 audio data recorded on the playback data recording part 710,but rather to the position (3) in order to obtain the ID3 tag recordedon the auxiliary information recording part 711 according to the requestof the auxiliary information access when playing an MP3 data, as shownin FIG. 7. While the traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112from the position (3) to the position (4), the optical pickup 112 readsout the ID3 tag. Then, after completion of reading of the ID3 tag, thetraverse motor 113 puts the optical pickup 112 back to the position (1)according to the request of the playback data access so as to play theMP3 audio data recorded on the playback data recording part 710. Whilethe traverse motor 113 moves the optical pickup 112 from the position(1) to the position (2), the optical pickup 112 reads out the MP3 audiodata. The system control part 114 outputs the playback signal.

Here, the operation that the auxiliary information access control partB421 requests the system control part 114 accessing of an auxiliaryinformation will be explained in further detail. The playback controlpart D420 manages the playback ID management table part 124. Theplayback management table A824, which is an example of the playback IDmanagement table 124 shown in FIG. 5, is a table in which uniqueplayback IDs (1 to N) are respectively given to a plurality of MP3 audiodata recorded on the optical disk 110, and the absolute recordingpositions on the optical disk 110 respectively correspond to those MP3audio data. However, the playback IDs are not necessarily limited to benatural and consecutive numbers, and also the absolute recordingpositions are not always necessary. The playback control part D420refers to such the playback ID management table A824, and all of (orfinite number of) the playback IDs of MP3 audio data played so far aretemporarily stored in the playback ID record storing part B525 duringthe playback operation. In addition, at the same time, theauxiliary-information (ID3 tags) added to all of (or finite number of)the MP3 audio data played so far are stored in the auxiliary informationrecord storage part B528 keeping the correspondence with the playbackIDs. Next, when the playback of the MP3 audio data presently beingplayed is finished, the control flow proceeds to a process of playbackof the next MP3 audio data. At this time, the playback ID comparing partB426 compares the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to be played nextwith the playback IDs of all of (or finite number of) the MP3 audio dataplayed so far and temporarily stored in the auxiliary information recordstorage part B525; if there is an identical ID, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part B427 instructs theauxiliary information access control part B421 not to access theauxiliary information but to reuse the auxiliary information togetherwith the playback IDs. The auxiliary information access control partB421 does not request to the system control part 114 accessing forre-obtaining the auxiliary information from the optical disk 110 butrequest to the auxiliary information record storage part B528 forobtaining the specified auxiliary information (ID3 tag) among theauxiliary information (ID3 tags) stored therein to realize the reuse ofthe auxiliary information (ID3 tag).

Comparison between the playback ID of the MP3 audio data to be playednext and all of (or a finite number of) the playback IDs of the MP3audio data temporarily stored in the playback ID record storing partB525 is execute; and if there are no identical IDs, the auxiliaryinformation access necessity determining part B427 instructs theinformation access control part B421 to access the auxiliaryinformation.

Furthermore, since a gigantic memory is required for storing all of (ora finite number of) the playback IDs and the auxiliary information (ID3tag) played so far in the playback ID record storing part B525 and theauxiliary information record storage part B528, by keeping a constantmonitoring of the playback ID by the playback frequency determining part529 and instructing the playback ID record storing part B525 and theauxiliary information record storage part B528 to delete the playbackIDs with low playback frequency, thereby the number of the playback IDand the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) is suppressed to a minimum toefficiently realize the reuse of the auxiliary information (ID3 tag)only for those playback IDs with high playback frequency.

In addition, the playback ID management table B924, which is an exampleof the playback ID management table 124 is shown in FIG. 9, is a tablein which unique optical disk IDs (1 to M) are respectively given tooptical disks to identify the optical disk 110, unique playback IDs (1to N) on the optical disk 110 are respectively given to a plurality ofMP3 audio data recorded on the optical disk 110, and also the absoluterecording positions on the optical disk 110 respectively correspond tothose MP3 audio data, as described in Embodiment 4. As described above,by managing not only the playback ID but also the optical disk, and atthe same time, by processing in a similar way using a pair of opticaldisk ID and playback ID as a playback ID in the playback ID recordstoring part B525, the playback ID comparing part B426, the auxiliaryinformation record storage part B528, and the playback frequencydetermining part 529, the above-mentioned process can be realizedastride a plurality of optical disks.

In addition, the above-mentioned respective Embodiments are explained onthe assumption that the recording medium controlled by the recordingmedium control apparatus is an optical disk and the data are read outfrom the recording medium by combining a spindle motor, a traversemotor, and an optical pickup. However, the recording medium is notlimited to the optical disk, other recording medium except the opticaldisk such as a magnetic disk or the like is available. Therefore, thepickup from the recording medium is not limited to the optical pickup;the other reading configuration except the optical pickup is available.Accordingly, exclusion of such configuration is not intended.

In addition, in the above-described respective Embodiments are explainedon the assumption the case that the playback data recorded on an opticaldisk are MP3 audio data, and the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded on the tail of the MP3 audio data. However, it is not limited tothe above-mentioned case, it is also applicable in the case that theauxiliary information data (ID3 tag) is added to the head of the MP3audio data, or to various data including the auxiliary information suchas MPEG video data, or WMA (Windows® Media Audio) data or the like, andhence, exclusion of such configuration is not intended.

For example, in the case that the auxiliary information (ID3 tag) isadded to the head of MP3 audio data and auxiliary information is storedin the auxiliary information storage part or the auxiliary informationrecord storage part, the distance that the traverse motor drives theoptical pickup can be short since the optical pickup is not required toread out the auxiliary information from the recording medium.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned respective Embodiments are explainedwith the configuration in which the movement of the optical pickup isrealized by the traverse motor. However, other configurations such thatthe case of an arm type (scheme of moving on a circular arc having apivot as a reference point) for the pickup driving part for driving thepickup are also applicable, and hence, exclusion of such configurationis not intended.

As described above, in a battery operable recording medium controlapparatus of the present invention, in which, while playing the playbackdata such as an MP3 audio data or the like recorded on an optical diskor the like, for example, the auxiliary information associated therewithsuch as ID3 tag is displayed on a display medium such as an LCD or thelike, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the case that the ID of the audio data presently played and theID of the audio data to be played in the next time are identical to eachother, by not executing the control for obtaining auxiliary informationsuch as the ID tag from the recording medium at the time of nextplayback, the auxiliary information, such as an ID3 tag, from aninternal memory is reused without moving an access part, that is, anoptical pickup by a traverse motor. According to this configuration, theconsumption of current in the access part is suppressed, and increase ofbattery operation duration time can be realized.

(2) In the case that the playback mode wherein playback is presentlybeing made is one-music-piece repeat mode, by not executing the controlin order to obtain the auxiliary information from the recording mediumfor the second playback or after that of repeat, the auxiliaryinformation from the internal memory is reused without moving the accesspart. According to this configuration, the consumption of current in thetraverse motor is suppressed, and the battery operation time can beextended.

(3) In the case that the playback is resumed after returning to the heador an intermediate position of the audio data by a key input or the likeduring the playback of the audio data, by not executing the control toobtain the auxiliary information from the recording medium at the timeof the resumption of the playback, the auxiliary information from theinternal memory is reused without moving the access part. According tothis configuration, the consumption of current in the access part issuppressed, and the battery operation time can be extended.

(4) In the case that the IDs of the audio data that have been played sofar are stored, and the ID of the audio data to be played next wasalready played in the past, by not executing the control to obtain theauxiliary information from the recording medium at the time of nextplayback, the auxiliary-information from the internal memory is reusedwithout moving the access part. According to this configuration, theconsumption of current in the access part is suppressed, and the batteryoperation time can be extended.

(5) In the case that the IDs of the audio data that have been played sofar are stored to a minimum according to the playback frequency, and theID of the audio data to be played next was already played in the past,by not executing the control to obtain the auxiliary information fromthe recording medium at the time of next playback, the auxiliaryinformation from the internal memory is reused without moving the accesspart. According to this configuration, the consumption of current in theaccess part is suppressed, and the battery operation time can beextended, and at the same time, the internal memory for storing theauxiliary information can be reduced to a minimum.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to itspreferred Embodiments in some detail, the disclosed contents of thepreferred Embodiments may change in the details of the structurethereof, and any changes in the combination and sequence of thecomponent may be attained without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe claimed invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The recording medium control apparatus and the recording medium controlmethod of the present invention can be utilized, for example, for theoptical disk recording and/or playback apparatus and method.

1. An apparatus for reproducing at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from a recording medium, each of the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at an end of the corresponding playback data and different from information for reproducing the corresponding playback data, by controlling a spindle motor for rotating the recording medium, a pickup for reading out the playback data and the bibliographic information from the recording medium, and a traverse motor for moving the pickup, the apparatus comprising: a playback control part for storing a table including a relation between: (a) each identification information for identifying each set of the playback data and the bibliographic data, and (b) recording location on the recording medium of each set; a playback ID storing part for storing the identification information of the playback data which is presently reproduced; an auxiliary information storage part which stores, during playback operation, the bibliographic information associated with the presently reproduced playback data; a comparator for reading out next identification information of next playback data which is to be next reproduced from the playback control part, comparing the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part with the next identification information, and outputting a resulting comparison result whether or not the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part; and a controller for controlling the spindle motor, the pickup and the traverse motor, wherein, in response to the comparison result that the next identification information is not present in the playback ID storing part, the controller controls the traverse motor to pass the next playback data and move to the end of the next playback data, and controls the pickup to reproduce the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at the end of the next playback data and associated with the next playback data from the recording medium, and wherein, in response to the comparison result that the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part, the controller reads out the bibliographic information from the auxiliary information storage part, as next bibliographic information of the next playback data which is to be next reproduced, without any control to the traverse motor.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification information are playback IDs each uniquely identifying each set of the playback data and the bibliographic data.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the playback ID storing part further stores a plurality of the identification information of the playback data that have been reproduced in the past, wherein the auxiliary information storage part further stores a plurality of bibliographic information each associated with each of the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part, so that the plurality of bibliographic information correspond to the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part, respectively, wherein the comparator compares each of the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part with the next identification information, and outputting the resulting comparison result whether or not the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part, and wherein, in response to the comparison result that the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part, the controller reads out the bibliographic information corresponding to the next identification information from the auxiliary information storage part, as next bibliographic information of the playback data which is to be next reproduced, without any control to the traverse motor.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the apparatus reproduces at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from one of a plurality of recording mediums, wherein the table stored in the playback control part includes a relation between: (a) medium identification information for identifying each of the recording mediums and each identification information for identifying each set of the playback data and the bibliographic data in each of the recording medium, and (b) recording location on each of the recording medium of each set.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a playback frequency determining part for detecting playback frequencies of playback data each having the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part, and searching identification information of playback data each having low playback frequency, deleting the searched identification information from the playback ID storing part, and deleting bibliographic information corresponding to the searched identification information from the auxiliary information storage part.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apparatus reproduces at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from one of a plurality of recording mediums, wherein the table stored in the playback control part includes a relation between: (a) medium identification information for identifying each of the recording mediums and each identification information for identifying each set of the playback data and the bibliographic data in each of the recording medium, and (b) recording location on each of the recording medium of each set.
 7. An apparatus for reproducing at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from a recording medium, each of the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at an end of the corresponding playback data and different from information for reproducing the corresponding playback data, by controlling a spindle motor for rotating the recording medium, a pickup for reading out the playback data and the bibliographic information from the recording medium, and a traverse motor for moving the pickup, the apparatus comprising: a repeat-playback key for inputting a repeat-playback instruction to reproduce repeatedly the playback data which is presently reproduced, an auxiliary information storage part which stores, during playback operation, the bibliographic information associated with the presently reproduced playback data; and a controller for controlling the spindle motor, the pickup and the traverse motor, wherein, when the controller reproduces next playback data which is to be next reproduced, in response to no input of the repeat-playback instruction, the controller controls the traverse motor to pass the next playback data and move to the end of the next playback data, and controls the pickup to reproduce the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at the end of the next playback data and associated with the next playback data from the recording medium, and in response to input of the repeat-playback instruction, the controller reads out the bibliographic information from the auxiliary information storage part, as next bibliographic information of the playback data which is to be next reproduced, without any control to the traverse motor.
 8. An apparatus for reproducing at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from a recording medium, each of the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at an end of the corresponding playback data and different from information for reproducing the corresponding playback data, by controlling a spindle motor for rotating the recording medium, a pickup for reading out the playback data and the bibliographic information from the recording medium, and a traverse motor for moving the pickup, the apparatus comprising: a reverse-skip key for inputting a reverse-skip instruction to resume the playback of the playback data which is presently reproduced, from one of a head of the playback data which is presently reproduced and a position prior to the position presently reproduced; an auxiliary information storage part which stores during playback operation, the bibliographic information associated with the presently reproduced playback data; and a controller for controlling the spindle motor, the pickup and the traverse motor, wherein, when the controller reproduces next playback data which is to be next reproduced, in response to no input of the reverse-skip instruction, the controller controls the traverse motor to pass the next playback data and move to the end of the next playback data, and controls the pickup to reproduce the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at the end of the next playback data and associated with the next playback data from the recording medium, and in response to input of the reverse-skip instruction, the controller reads out the bibliographic information from the auxiliary information storage part, as next bibliographic information of the playback data which is to be next reproduced, without any control to the traverse motor.
 9. A method of reproducing at least one set of playback data and bibliographic information associated with the playback data from a recording medium, each of the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at an end of the corresponding playback data and different from information for reproducing the corresponding playback data, a pickup for reading out the playback data and the bibliographic information from the recording medium, and a traverse motor for moving the pickup, the method includes the following steps of: storing a table including a relation between: (a) each identification information for identifying each set of the playback data and the bibliographic data, and (b) a recording location on the recording medium of each set in a playback control part; storing the identification information of the playback data which is presently reproduced in a playback ID storing part; storing during playback operation, the bibliographic information associated with playback data which is presently reproduced in an auxiliary information storage part; reading out next identification information of the playback data which is to be next reproduced from the playback control part, comparing the identification information stored in the playback ID storing part with the next identification information, and outputting a resulting comparison result whether or not the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part, in response to the comparison result that the next identification information is not present in the playback ID storing part, controlling the traverse motor to pass the next playback data and move to the end of the next playback data, and controlling the pickup to reproduce the bibliographic information contiguously recorded at the end of the next playback data and associated with the next playback data from the recording medium, and in response to the comparison result that the next identification information is present in the playback ID storing part, reading out the bibliographic information from the auxiliary information storage part, as next bibliographic information of the next playback data which is to be next reproduced, without any control to the traverse motor. 